Electrical connecter



I Sept. 8, 1936. HQRN Re. 20,097

ELECTRI CAL CONNECTER I Original Filed March 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1mumnuww j.

maven-r03 EMIL- A. HORN e, If livrncya Reissued Sept. 8, 1936 UNITEDSTATES I 20.091 ELECTRICAL comma Emil A. Horn, Jamaica; N. Y.. assignorto Bulsell 8: Stoll Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Original No. 1,903,715, dated April 11, 1933, Serial No. 526,072,March 28, 1931. Application for reissue October 11, 1934, Serial No.747,979

10 Claims.

This application relates to electrical connectors. More particularly itrelates to separable electrical connecters which are provided with meansfor locking the parts together automatically as soon as the contactsbecome fully engaged. The invention is shown herein as applied to anattachment plug and a receptacle, but it is applicable to connectersgenerally. It is an object of this invention to provide an electricalconnecter with means to lock the two parts 'of the connecter togetherautomatically. Another object is to simplify the construction of suchelectrical connecters. Other objects and advantages will appear as it isdescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a broken side elevation view partly insection showing a partially engaged attachment plug and receptacle towhich my invention has been applied.

time 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the two members of theconnecter fully engaged.

' Figure 3 is a section view of the invention as shown in Figure 1 thesection being taken on line 3-3 Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front view of the receptacle member and face plate shownin Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a side view of the plug member used in the modification ofthe invention as shown in Figure 5.

Figure Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section view of the receptacle member shown in Figure 5the section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5 but of a modified form of theconstruction shown in that figure.

Referring to the drawings the invention cornprises a plug member Ill anda receptacle member I! which are engageable and detachable from oneanother by rectilinear movement. The plug member comprises a cylindricalmetallic casing I 4 closed at one end except for a small aperturethrough which electrical conductors may pass. The casing is provided,adjacent this small aperture, with a strain relief fitting I 6 adaptedto grip the electrical conductors and relieve strain upon the contactmembers oi the plug member. Within the plug member is a cylindricalinsulating body (not visible) to which are secured pin-type plugcontacts II which are adapted to cooperate with socket contacts in thereceptacle II. A

7 is an end view of the plug member in sleeve member surrounds andprojects beyond the end of the plug opposite the strain relief fittingl6. This sleeve member 20 is held upon the metallic casing I l by theend of the screw 22 which extends radially through the casing I 4 andinsulating body. The head of the screw 22 is counter-sunk in one side ofthe casing it while the end of the screw extends beyond the casing onthe other side into a circumferential slot 23- in the sleeve 20 so thatthe sleeve is permitted a limited rotational movement upon and relativeto the casing H. To assist the manual rotation of this sleeve a flange24 is turned out from the inner end of the sleeve and its periphery. isknurled.

4 The receptacle member I! comprises an insulating body having arectangular parallelepipedal base a and a cylindrical portion 30b. Aplurality of wells 3| are bored in the end of the cylindrical portion inwhich are located sleeve-like socket contacts 32 which are adapted toreceive the plug contacts I8. In opposite side edges of the base portion30a are conventional wire terminals it which are connected respectivelywith the socket contacts 32. The insulating body is seated in a U-shapedstrap-35 whose ends 31 are out turned and apertured to receive screws 36by which a face plate 50 maybe secured to the member. The face plate 50is apertured centrally over the insulating body portion 30b in orderthat the plug Ill may be projected through the aperture and the plugcontacts l8 may engage with the socket contacts 31. One of the legs ofthe supporting strap of the receptacle is cut away adiacent theout-turned end forming a cam surface 38 beneath which a slot II is cuttransversely into the leg of the strap. The periphery of the aperture inthe face plate Ell is recessed as at 42 adjacent the cam surface 38, inorder that a pin 44 which projects radially outward from the sleeve 20of the plug member may slip through the face plate and engage with thecam surface 38 as the plug is connected with the receptacle. the plugstarts to engage the receptacle the plug contacts l8 entering the socketwells will prevent the plug from being rotated relative to thereceptacle. But, since the sleeve 20 is permitted a limited amount ofrotation relative to the plug, the sleeve will be rotated slightly asthe pin 44 moves down the cam surface 38 during the movement of the plugto fully engage the plug contacts IS with the socket contacts l2.

Obviously when In order to automatically lock the plug to the the sleeve20. This spring 8 tends to rotate the a sleeve Ill constantly in onedirection. Thus as the pin moves down to the end of the cam surface II,the spring is put under tension by the 'rotation of the sleeve; and whenthe pin moves pasttheendofthecamsurfacellitwillslilI- into the slot llby virtue of the efiort of the 5 a modified form of the invention Inthis form an insulating body Ii of is secured within the metallichousing transverse screw M as in the modificaheretofore described; andplug contacts ll secured to the insulating body as in the Pmodification. However, the casing 4! exdsbeyondtheinsulatingbodyiiwhichit and the sleeve 55 which surrounds the as 'in the modificationheretofore determinates attheendoi'thecasing l9. circumferential slot 52is formed in the exof ceasing andintoit projects wardly directed radialpin 53 mounted on eeve. 'ihispinflservestoholdthesleeve upon casing IIand permits the sleeve to rotational movement upon the ive thereto. Thepin extends inthe casing a short distance for a will hereinafter appear.I tends to rotate the sleeve 55 conone direction, one end 51a of thespring being secured in the casing while the, other end l'lbissecm'edinaknu'riedring 58 formed on the inner end of the sleeve 55 and ofslightly greater internal and external diameter than the sleeve. Thisring 58 houses the spring and also facilitates rotation of the sleeve55.

The receptacle member as in the previous modification is mounted in aU-strap Bl to which maybesecuredafaceplate "whichisapertured to permitthe entrance the plug member, the insulating body Ii, having wells iiand socket contacts I! with which the plug contacts II are engageable asin the modification hereinbefore described. The end portion ti of theinsulating body which contains the socket wells, is cylindrical, as inthe prior modification, and of slightly less diameter than the internaldiameter of the plug casing is, in order that this cylindrical portionBl may slide in the plug casing 49 as the plug and receptacle areconnected.

A groove 82 is made in the surface of this cylindrical portion parallelto the axis of the insulating body and a part ofthe wall of this grooveis cut away adjacent the end of the insulating body ll forming aninclined cam surface 63. At the inner end of the cam surface, acircumi'erential groove 84, communicating with groove 82, is cut intothe insulating body so that Eager;

when the plug and socket are connected the pin it will engage the camsurface and cause the sleeve ll to be rotated relative to the casing 49of the plug, the casing being held against rotation by reason of theentry of the plug contacts into the socket wells during the first partof the connecting movement of the plug and receptacle.

When the plug and socket contacts become fully engaged, the pin 53 willhave passed the inner end of the cam surface 33 and by virtue of theeil'ort of the spring 51 in rotating the sleeve 8, will have entered thecircumferential groove t4, thus automatically. locking the plug to thereceptacle.

Although I have described the grooves cam surfaceasbeingcutintotheinsulatingbodyitis obvious that a metallic sleeve might be formed aroundthe cylindrical portion of the insulatingbodyandthegroovesandcamsurfaceformedin that sleeve therebyeliminatingany tendency of thepintowearawaythecamsurfaceand grooves.

SuchaconstructionisshowninFigmeQ wherein the sleeve II has slots '2', Iand cam surface 88' corresponding to the slots 62, II and cam surface Iin the modification jiBt described. "I'oremovethepiugiromthereceptacleitis necessary simply to rotate the sleeve itagainst I the action of thespring 51 untilthepinuhas moved out of thecircumferential groove I4 and then the plug may beremoved fromthereceptacie by pulling it away therefrom. Manvmodificationswithinthescopeofmyinvention will occur to those skilled in the arttherefore I do not limit my invention to the modifications shownherewith.

I claim:

1. A separable electric connecter comprising a pair of connectiblemembers, plug and socket contacts thereon, a sleeve located on one ofsaid members and capable of limited rotary motion relative thereto andextending beyond the contacts thereon 'and terminating in a continuousmetal rim'at a transverse plane, a pin and slot connection for lockingsaid members together, and a spring urging said sleeve into position inwhich it hoids'the parts of said connecter locked together.

2. A separable electric connecter comprising a pair of connectiblemembers, plug and socket contacts thereon, one of said members having aninsulating body, a casing around said insulating body and having one endportion rigidly secured thereto, a sleeve mounted on said casingextending beyond the contacts thereon and terminating in a continuousmetal rim facing the other member and rotatable to a limited extent withrespect thereto, a pin and slot connection between said sleeve and theother of said connectible members for locking said members tomay beconnected by a rectilinear movement and as their contacts become fullyengaged aid bars will become automatically locked together.

4. A separable electric connecter comprising a pair of connectiblemembers having insulating bodies, plug and socket contacts on saidbodies, a sleeve on one of'said bodies, said sleeve being capable oflimited rotary motion relative to said body, a spring tending to rotatesaid sleeve in one direction relative to said body. a pin and slotconnection between said sleeve and the other of said bodies, the slot ofsaid connection having a cam surface whereby said sleeve will be rotatedasthemembersarebeingconnectedandwill snap into locking poution as theircontacts become fully engaged.

5. A separable electric connecter com'prising'a pair oi. connectiblemembers having insulating bodies, a sleeve on one of said bodies. saidsleeve being capable oiilimited rotary movement relative to said body, aspring tending to, rotate said sleeve relative to said body, amemberconnected with the other insulating body, and a pin and slotconnection between said sleeve and said last mentioned member, said"slot having a cam surface adjacent thereto ensaseable by said pinwhereby the sleeve will be rotated as the con-' nectible members areJoined and will snapinto locking position as their contacts becomeiully' enc s 6. A separable electric connecter comprising a pair ofconnectible members having insulating bodies, a sleeve-on one 0! saidbodies, said sleeve being capable oi limited rotary movementrelativetosaidbody,aspringtendingtorotatesaid sleeve relative to saidbody, a supporting strap connected with the other insulating body, and

. spin and slot connntion between said strap and sleeve, said slothaving a cam surface adjacent thereto engageable by said pin whereby thesleeve will'be rotated as theconneetible members are joined and willsnap into locking position astheir contacts become fully I. An electricconnecting device, a receptacle comprising an insulating body. contactson said body,aface plate,astrapsupportingsaidbody from said plate. saidplatehaving an aperture witharadialrecemsaidcontactsbeingaccasibiethroughsaidaperturesaidreceptaclehavinga cam surface adjacent saidrecess and having a slotatthee'ndoi'saldcamsuriacaincombi and whichenters said groove. Y I mm. a. norm. 0 I

nation with a plug connectible with said receptacle, said plugcomprising an insulating body, a sleeve thereon, said sleeve beingcapable oi limited rotary motion relative to said body, a spring tendingto rotate said sleeve relative to said body, and a pin on said sleeveadapted to cooperate with said cam surface and slot and to automaticallylock said plug and receptacle. together when'they are fully connected.

8. A separable electrical oonnecter comprising insulating bodies havingplug and socket contacts thereon, metallic sleeves around said bodies,one of said, sleeves being rotatable relatively to said bodies, a springurging said sleeve in one direction, a pin and slot'con'nectlon betweensaid sleeve and the sleeve on said other body, a cam surface engageableby said pin to cause rotation causing automatic locking of said contactswhen said contacts reach fully engaged position.

of said relatively. rotatable sleeve as said con-- 'tacts are movedtowards each other, said spring 9. Deviceas claimed in claim 3, in whichsaid cam surface and the edge of said slot are formed by asingie memberwhich is mounted for relative yielding movement with respect to said.pin

to permit them to pass each other and snap

